You darn kids! Get off my lawn!

Jun 26, 2015 08:07

So, it finally happened. Square-Enix is remaking Final Fantasy VII.

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Sigh.

Oh, I shouldn't be saying that. I'm just an obstinate old curmudgeon who is stuck in a neverending nostalgia loop for all the same crap she loved in high school. Objectively, I KNOW the original FFVII is probably due for an update. The story is convoluted and weird, there are translation errors galore, the art style is blocky and inconsistent and we've come SO FAR graphically, etc. etc. But it's a lot like the Digimon dub: I'll always love it, flaws and all!

Yes, the story is a mess, but it's also intentionally complex, nuanced, and open to interpretation. So are the characters-- multidimensional, varied individuals who are beaten down by pollution and evil corporations and The Man, who eventually overcome their own personal demons to find the emotional and interpersonal strength needed in order to change the status quo and save the planet. It's so... cyberpunk environmentalist, I guess. And I really DO love the characters. Every party member gets some time in the spotlight with a poignant character arc (hmm, another similarity with Digimon), not to mention they all have unique motivations and backstory-- and very few of them really are who they seem to be at first glance. The women are all interesting and well-rounded (my favorite party has any combination of Cloud with Aeris, Tifa, and Yuffie, but I'll throw Cid in there too because he's a delightful grumpus XD), and I really don't want to see any of them drastically recharacterized or have their reasons for acting the way they do changed or simplified! Another thing: instead of an unreliable narrator, you have an unreliable game protagonist, and through Cloud, the game not only criticizes and deconstructs the stoic/unflappable soldier trope, but also uses him as a player-proxy to get you invested in the story and engage in some fourth-wall-breaking, PLUS he gets to do ridiculous stuff like snowboard and breed/race huge flightless chickens :3 What I mean by all that is: wow, I root for Cloud SO MUCH but... he's also a big dumb dork. GAH he's such a strong/sad little angstmuffin and I really love going on this journey with him! But will some of those less-serious aspects of his characterization be brought over, I wonder?



There are far sillier moments, but the part where they all sneak aboard a ship disguised as sailors (including one party member with four legs and a tail) is pretty great. Barret being described as "a bear wearing a marshmallow?" That had better be in there! XD
And yes, the Playstation-era polygonal graphics are blocky, but the developers really knew how to utilize them. The broad character gestures may seem primitive and overly-exaggerated, but, IMO, they end up being quite expressive! And the Wall Market section where you have to cross-dress? How's THAT going to be played to the same level of ridiculousness with these super-serious, detailed character models and muted colors, I'd like to know! Don't even get me started on the music. "One-Winged Angel" is, of course, epic, but I also have significant feelings for the overworld music and the killer boss battle theme. "City of the Ancients" is hauntingly lovely, and "Crazy Motorcycle Chase" is tense and exciting! Characters get themes and leitmotifs that trickle in and out of the score (ugh, the soundtrack is such a work of arrrrrt!), but I have to assume there's going to be voice acting on top of it now-- and if THAT'S the case, I guess infamous/hilarious translation errors like "this guy are sick" won't be coming back for a wink-and-nudge hardy-har-har like "you spoony bard" did for FFIV :P Also: will the ending be the same? Ambiguity REALLY WORKS for this story, I don't need lots of closure surrounding the immediate fate of our heroes or humanity as a whole (er... even though "Advent Children" already blew that out of the water. Let's just not talk about the Compilation material more than we have to. "Last Order" was OK, but everything else... *Cloud-style apathetic shrug*).

Well, anyway. Aside from the nostalgia factor (which I'll admit is a pretty powerful), part of what makes the original FFVII stand up for me even today is that it remaiins cheesy and goofy and just plain fun, while also being dramatic and well-executed. This is a pretty potent combination for making me feel ALL THE THINGS, and I really don't think any type of realistic-looking remake will be able to recapture all that. I like that the teaser seems to acknowledge the polarizing nature of this news for the hardcore fanbase ("the reunion at hand may bring joy, or fear..." also Reunion oh ho yes I see what you did there), so at least they're thinking about us skeptics a little bit. Just for that, Squeenix, I will do my best to keep an open mind, but until I see more, I'm going to hold off on getting excited-- so yes, thanks for understanding!! And y'know... not everyone still has a PSOne/PS2 still hooked up to their TV so I can understand wanting to play it on a newer system in HD and all that stuff. BUT STILL.

Anyway, this has been another edition of Stubborn Opinionated Fangirl Rants with your host Citrus. Keep those sticks firmly planted in the mud, and we'll see you next time!

... Oh, but while I'm here, and speaking of goofy/cartoony yet dramatic/well-done stories: I'm really getting the itch to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender again. Such a good show. SUCH A GOOD SHOOOOOW! *sobs*

ffvii, rambling, atla, vidya games

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